A cycad is an ancient type of plant that looks like a palm tree or large fern but isn't related to either one. Cycads have a thick, rough trunk (sometimes underground) topped with a crown of stiff, feathery leaves that fan out in a circle. Some cycads grow as tall as a person, while others stay low to the ground.

These plants are living fossils: they've existed for over 280 million years, meaning they were around when dinosaurs walked the Earth. In fact, many dinosaurs probably munched on cycad leaves! While thousands of cycad species thrived in prehistoric times, only about 300 species survive today, making them quite rare.

Cycads grow very slowly, sometimes taking 50 years just to produce their first cone (they reproduce using cones, like pine trees, not flowers). You might see them in botanical gardens or as prized ornamental plants in warm climates. Despite their palm-like appearance, cycads are more closely related to pine trees than to palms. Most parts of cycads are poisonous to humans and animals, though some animals have evolved special ways to eat them safely.